Drier for paper-coating machinery



F. P. REED.

DRIER F08 PAPER COATING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION FILED Dc.24,1918. RENEwEn MAR.22.1922.

Patented Oct. 17, 1922.

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DRIER FR PAPER COATING MACHINERY. APPLICATION FILED IJc.24. Ism.IIENEwEn IIIAII. 22. |922.

Patented Oct. 17, 1922` 3 sIIEE'TssIIEEI 2.

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F. P. REED.

DRIER FR PAPER COATING MACHINERY.

APPLICATION msn DEC. 24. |918. RENEwED MAR.22,1922.

Patented Oct. 17, 1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERIC FAYSON REED, 0F EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 CHARLES C.ORCUTT, OF LONG BRANCH, NEW JERSEY.

DRIER FOR PAPER-COATING MACHINERY.

Original application filed June 21, 1918, Serial No. 241,102. Dividedand this application tiled December 24, 1918, Serial No. 268,202.Renewed March 22, 1922. Serial No. 545,899.

To all whom it may concer/n:

Be it known that I FREDERIC PAYsoN REED, a citizen of the Lnited States,residing at East Orange, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Driers forPaper-Coating Machinery; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

The present invention relates to drying apparatus, and more particularlyto apparatus of the general class indicated which is utilized for thepurpose of dlrying marbled paper. lt is designed primarily for use in,and as a part of, a coating machine of the character shown and describedin my prior applications, Ser'al Nos. 155,757 and 241,102, filed,respectively, March 19, 1917, and June 21, 1918; and it is, in eii'ect,a continuation in part of the earlier of these applications and adivision of the other one.

In machines of the types therein disclosed, a continuous web of paper isunwound from a roll and passed over a coating device which applies aliquid to one face thereof. A liquid color is then applied to thepreviously coated face of the web and then spread thereover, or, ifpreferred, a plurality of diiferent colors may be applied and suitablyblended together; but before the application of the latter color orcolors, the web, on passing beyond the coating device, is subjected tothe action of a distributor or scrubber, which serves to spread theliquid evenly over the web and to work it thereinto, so that athoroughly moistened surface is provided on which the aforesaid addedcolor or colors ma spread slightly of its or their own accordl, with theresult that the blending action is facilitated. The added color orcolors are preferably applied in the forms of flecks or speckles bymeans of rotating brushes, which dust off small particles of color fromrolls or equivalent carriers mounted in tanks containing the colors. Theweb thus treated is thereafter passed over an arched metal drier underwhich gas isl burned to set the colors and e'ect preliminary drying ofthe web, and is finally subjected to such tanning with air as will dryit to the necessary degree,

and wound up into a finished roll suitable tor marketing.

The drier just referred to, forms the subject-matter of the presentinvention, and is constructed in such a Way as to enable the web thereonto be uickly and conveniently subJected to a hig degree of heat, so astp quickly set the colors, while at the same time completely avoidinginj'ury either to the paper or to the coloring material. This high-speeddrying action is a feature of substantial importance, especially inmaking agate or marbled paper, because it prevents the particles ofcolor spattered on by the rotating brushes from spreading tooextensively. Also, the arching of the drier precludes the moist web fromwrinkling or puckering, and considerable tension may be applied to itwhile thus supported. so as to cause it to be ironed during its passageover the drier. The form which the drier preferably takes in practice,will be hereinafter fully described, and its various advantages will beexplained in detail as the description proceeds.

A machine constructed in accordance with the disclosure in theabove-identified applications, is illustrated somewhat diagrammaticallyin the accompanying drawings, wherein- Y Figures 1 and 2, placed end toend, constitute a sectional elevation of the complete machine;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan View; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sections taken, respectively, on lines 4-4and 5 5 of Fig. 2.

Reference ma be had to the later of my two above-mentioned applicationsfor a detailed description of all oi the component parts and featuresoi' the machine illustrated in the drawin the following de scriptioncovering in tail only such parts and features as relate directly to thedrier and referring in a more or less general manner to the remainingparts, which latter are not comprised in the present divisionalinvention.

The. machine here shown embodies a framework, at the front end of whichis rotatably mounted the roll 1 of paper to be coated; the sheet or webof paper, as it unwinds from said roll, being led through a train oftension rolls 2, then around a larger tension roll or drum 3, and thenover a guide roll 4 to the coating device. The latter preferably comrises a pair of rolls 5 and 6, which are supp ied with liquid from atank 9 and are suitably power-driven to rotate in opposite directions,as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 1; such arrangement keeping the webof paper under tension between said rolls and applying to its surface anadequate quantity of the liquid, which may be either a paint or color,or merely water, according to conditions. Thereafter, the paper passesaround a rotating drum i0, where the excess liquid is removed by meansofa suitable squeegee 11, and that remaining` on the paper is moreuniformly distributed and worked in. To effect the distributing` action,there may be emplo ed a reciprocating rubber 17 suitabl acedwith feltand o eratively connecte by a link 23 to a cran shaft 25, which isbelted to a second shaft 26, the latter shaft being driven from a sourceof power not shown.

After passing the squeegee and the distributing means, the paper movesrearwardly toward the drying mechanism; but before reaching the firstburner, it passes under one or more devices for spattering it withcolor. Each spattering device coinprises a tank containing a liquidcolor of suitable composition of which aniline may be the base, suchtank having a smooth cylindrical roller mounted to rotate in it anddipping into the liquid. Where two tanks are employed, as in theconstruction illustrated, the first tank 28 may contain a. single coloronly, and a long, continuous roller 29 may be used; whereas the secondtank 30 may be divided into a number of se arate compartments, eachcontaining a di erent color, and the roller 31 may be made up of anumber of separate sections, one for each compartment. Above andslightly in front of each roller is a rotary brush 33 com rising tuftsof hog bristles mounted on a orizontal shaft, the bristles contactingwith the smooth top face of the roller and iicking 0H' little specks ofthe liquid color which are delivered diagonally downward upon the moistweb. The irst sputtering device will ordinarily be sufficient when butas single color is to be superimposed on a uniform background; but whenmore than one color is to e supplied in specks or splotches, then thesecond device may be used to advantage, or both of said devices may beused together. The tanks and brushes may be supported in any desiredmanner upon the frame, and any suitable brush-rotating means may beprovided.

The blending together of the colors to produce the required agate ormarbled effects is preferably carried out by means of an air-sprayingmechanism which is designed to move forwards and bfkWMdS across the web,so that the jets of air impiiiging against the moist particles of coloract to expand or spread them out until they touch one another; and sincethe specks are applied more or less regularly on the web andcompartively close together, the tendency of the jets will be to formwaves or sinuous lines of color which merge into one another and combineto produce different color effects. As shown, the s rayer preferablconsists of a pair of paralllel pipes 35 which are disposed above andtransversely of the web and are each provided with a series of dependingnipples 38 through which the air passes; said pipes being suitablyconnected with a source of air under ressure, and being driven from theshaft 2g by means of connectin rods 42. The several parts thus fardescri ed are specifically claimed in the afore-inentioned applicationsand form no part of the present invention, as has already beenexplained.

The improved drier, in which this invention essentially resides,comprises primarily a curved plate 44 of metal, galvanized iron forexample, preferably faced on its top with a layer 45 of woven wirescreen. The web is supported in arched form on this plate as it assesfrom drum 10 at the front of the mac ine to a similar drum 46 at therear of the machine; and by virtue of such support, the web has nochance to pucker and wrinkle, and considerable tension may be applied toit Without disadvantageous results, the pulling of the moist web overthe hot screen causing the latter to exert an ironing action on the webwhich is effective in driving out the moisture.

While traveling between drums 10 and 46, the web is subjected to heat ofvery considerable intensity, this being supplied by a plurality of gasburners 47 extending transversely of the machine and each having a largenumber of small jets playing directly on the under surface of the archedmetal shield 44. It is a function of the superimposed woven wire screenboth to space the travelin web of paper from the shield 44 and toistribute and equalize the heating effect upon the traveling web ofpaper, not only because of heat transference along the wires of thescreen, but also because of the small air pockets or cells between themeshes of the wire. With the arrangement described, it is possible toheat the paper uickly and conveniently, and thereby set t e colors, andto do this without injury either to the paper or to the coloringmaterial. When making an agate or marbled paper, the high speed ofdrying is of importance, because it checks what otherwise might be a tooextensive spread of the par: ticles of color spattered on by therotating brushes.

Owing t0 the fue@ that no point o1; the

paper surface is constantly in contact with the hot metal of the screen,the temperature of the screen can be high, and itslironing effect mademore pronounced than if a liat metal surface were used. Also, themoisture has a chance to escape through the meshes of the screen, whileat the same time being liberated from the upper or Well expose face ofthe web.

In order that there may be no overheating of the paper above theburners, when for any reason the machine must be stopped, means areprovided for lifting the web out of contact with the wire netting of thesupporting arch. This lifting means may comrise a plurality oftransverse rods 48 under ying the web, and each supported at lts ends barms 49 connected together by a pair o horizontal bars 50, one at eachside of the machine, each arm 49 being pivoted at its upper end to asuitable support 51. By pushing longitudinally on either bar 50, thearms 49 will be caused to swing their pivotal supports into thepositions indicated in dotted lines, and rods 48 will lift the web highenough to prevent overheating. As a means for effecting suchlongitudinal movement of bars 50, a pair of links 52 (Fig. 2), pivotedtogether at 53 and connected to a vertical rod 54, may be utilized, saidrod 54 being movable up or down to raise or lower the web. Suitablestops 55 may be provided for holding the lifting mechanism in anydesired osition, and means are also provided for lifting the web olf thecoating rolls 5 and 6 when stoppage of the machine takes place. Thelatter means is preferably so constructed as to be operated by theirstmentioned lifting means, while yet being capable of independentoperation with respect thereto; and, as shown, it comprises a transverserod 56, arranged between the said rolls 5 and 6 in position to underliethe web, said rod being suspended at its ends from pivoted links 57(only one of which appears) which are carried b a pair of levers 58 atone end thereof. he levers 58 are fulcrumed intermediate their ends onthe frame sides, and one of them (or each, if preferred) is adapted tobe engaged by a laterally projecting pin 59 fixed to the lower end ofthe adjacent arm 49, which is extended downward for that purpose (Fig.1). The other end of each lever 58 is en` gaged by a stop 60, thatserves to normally hold the lever in lowered position.

The drum 46 ma be heated by a plurality of as burners 61 ocated withinits interior anni; fed with gas through a hollow shaft 62 on which thedrum is rotatably mounted; and after leaving said drum 46, the webpasses over a plurality of fans 63, each of which need be nothing morethan a flat plate of metal extending longitudinally across the machineand mounted. to rotate on a horiabout l as indicated. The fansaieprovided with be connected and driven by means of a be t 65 which isitself driven from a source of power not shown. Thisifanning cools theweb, helps to drive away the excess moisture, and tempera the web,giving the remaining moisture a chance to become equalized between theupper and lower faces of the web and putting the latter substantially incondition for re-winding into a roll.

Sets of tapes 66 and 67 are provided to support the web while passingover the fans, between which tapes t e web travels. The upper tapes 66are endless, and are caused to move with the 'same velocity as the web,their lower stretches passing beneath a series of drums' 68which assistin the supporting operation, while their upper stretches are engagedwith recessed guide rollers 69 (Fig. 5) which keep the tapes in properspaced relation on the drums. The ower tapes 67 are stationary, and aresu orted at their opposite ends from t e ame. The drums and tapes thusform two inverted arches, between which the traveling web may be heldtaut without puckering, or without sagging when the machine is stopped.Fina ly, the web is delivered over a drum 70, heated by gas burners 71,and thereafter asses around a guide drum 72 and roller g3 and throughtension rolls 74 to a power driven drum 75, where it is wound u as afinished roll, the ull of the drum 75 being utilized to unwindp thepaper from roll 1 and cause it to travel through the entire machine.-

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination, with a pair of drums between which a continuoussheet in moist condition is arranged to pass; of a metal shield inarched form between said drums; gas burners under said shield to heatit; and wire netting disposed upon said shield to be heated thereby, andover which the sheet travels; substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a air of drums between which a continuous s eetin moist condition is arranged to pass; of an arched support for saidsheet between said drums' heating means for said support distributedalong and beneath the same; and a foraminous element resting upon saidsupport to be heated thereby, and over which the sheet travels;substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a pair of drums between which a continuoussheet in moist condition is arranged to pass; of an arched support forthe sheet between said drums to prevent puckering; heating means forsaid support distributed along and beneath the same; wire nettingresting upon said support to be heated thereby and over which the sheettravels; and means for lifting the Sheet out of Contact with saidnetting to prevent overheating; substantially as described.

4. The combination, with a air of drums between which a continuous s eetin moist condition is arranged to pass; of an arched metal late betweenthe drums; heatin means or said plate; and means over whic the sheettravels disposed upon said plate to be heated thereby and spacing thesheet from direct contact with the plate, for ironin out irregularitiesin said sheet; substantia ly as described.

5. The combination, with a alr of drums between which a continuous s eetin moist condition is arranged to pass; o f an arched metal late betweenthe drums; heating means or said plate; means over whlch the sheettravels disposed upon said plate to. be heated thereby and spacing thesheet from direct contact with the late, for ironing out irregularitiesin said siieet; and means operable at will to lift the sheet out ofcontact with said ironing means; substantially as described.

6. The combination, with a pair of drums between which a continuoussheet in moist condition is arranged to pass; of an arched metal platebetween the drums; heating means for said plate; and an arched wirescreen conforming to the curvature of said plate and with which thesheet contacts during its passage from one drum to the other, wherebysvald screen is caused to exert an ironing action upon said sheet, toremove irregularities therein; substantially as described.

7. The combination, with a pair of drums between which a continuoussheet in moist condition is arranged to pass; of an arched metal latebetween the drums; heating means or said plate; an arched wire screenconforming to the curvature of said plate and with which the sheetcontacts during its passage from one drum to the other, whereby saidscreen is caused to exert an ironing action upon said sheet to removeirregu arities therein; and means operable at will to withdraw the sheetfrom contact with said screen; substantially as described. 8. Theherein-described method of dry- 1n continuous webbing, which consists 1nu lin the web in molst condition over a cate arch of foraminousmaterial, so as to causey the arch to exert an ironing action upon theweb to drive out the moisture therefrom and to prevent puckering andwrinkling.

9. The combination, with a pair of drums between which a continuoussheet in moist condition is arran ed to pass; of an arched support forsaid s eet located between said drums; heating means for said support;and means spaclng the sheet from the hot surface of said support andhaving ockets into which the steam generated by t e heat can escape fromthe moist sheet.

10. The herein-described method of dry- 1n continuous webbin whichconsists 1n pu 11n the web is molst condition over a cate arched suport'having steam pockets, so as to cause t e arch to exert an ironingaction upon the web to drive out the molsture therefrom and permit theescape into said pockets of the steam into which the moisture istransformed by the heat.

In testimony whereof I ax my signature.

FREDERIC PAYsoN anni).

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 1,432,302, grantedOctober 17, 1922, upon the application of Frederic Payson Reed, of EastOrange, New Jersey,

for an improvement in Driers for Paper-Coating Machinery, errors appearin Y the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 2,line 115, strike out the words traveling and of paper and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent` Oice.

Signed and sealed this 28th day of November, A. D., 1922.

KARL FENNING,

cts'ng Commissioner of Patents.

